I am a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Yes,
I perform cosmetic surgeries. But, I also take care of many seriously injured
people. In the last 18 months, I have rebuilt countless fractured faces
of every description, mangled hands, and even cared for two lovely young
ladies who suffered total scalp avulsions.

The usual cause for total scalp avulsions is hair
becoming entangled in a machine (usually at work) and then being torn off
at the posterior neck to the upper eyelids, often including at least part
of the ear, and sometimes even ripping off part of the face.

These are nasty injuries, and my heart bleeds for
the victims whose entire scalp I hold in my hands, realizing that what lies
ahead are many hours of tedious surgery under the microscope, in an attempt
to reattach the small arteries and veins so that the scalp might be saved.
Needless to say, these injuries NEVER occur at a convenient time, and sleepless
nights are the rule.

For several years I have subsidized my care of
work-related injuries by taking care of paying patients. You see, the Ohio
Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) will NOT pay me for the care of injured
Ohio workers since I chose not to be "certified" by Ohio BWC.
Although I am certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which
involves many years of residency following medical school, then passing
rigorous written and oral examinations, Ohio BWC certification involves
selling out physician and patient rights to the managed care of Ohio BWC.
I cannot do that.

Some of my patients are denied care by Ohio BWC.
With others, it is difficult to provide quality care within their parameters.
For instance, a bright young man with a complex work-related degloving injury
of his foot had to be hospitalized. Not only was I pressured to discharge
him prematurely, but, upon discharge he was denied the extensive dressing
supplies he needed. Why? Ohio BWC deemed he was drawing a salary! The reality
was that his salary had been slashed due to his injury, and he could not
afford the cost of his extensive dressings. He had already been discharged,
and I was preparing to purchase his dressings myself. He had to have
them. Fortunately, at the last minute, following numerous phone calls and
appeals, Ohio BWC relented.

Ohio newspapers recently reported that Ohio BWC
had a $6 billion surplus. They should be pleased. But, no. That's not enough.
Ohio BWC went to a major hospital in my community and demanded that I be
removed from the emergency call schedule. Unfortunately, this hospital has
a very lucrative agreement with Ohio BWC, and no amount of persuasion could
deter them.

One indication that truth and integrity were irrelevant
was that a letter to the hospital's physician president of the medical staff
went completely unanswered.

At a meeting with four of the hospital's physician
leaders, it was unanimous that I promptly and competently cared for all
my patients. In an attempt to coerce me into being an Ohio BWC "certified"
provider, the hospital's medical staff president warned me that I had to
work within the system. That, he said, was how slavery was ultimately abolished.
At that, one physician became quite irate, "What do you think this
is? Here is a physician that takes care of patients day and night and doesn't
get paid by Ohio BWC. Is this not slavery?"

Actually, it's worse than slavery, because Ohio
BWC has effectively prevented me from taking care of ALL emergency patients
at this hospital, not just injured Ohio workers.

So then, where are the freedoms my forefathers
fought so hard for? This is a "Christian" hospital. Yet, it is
even a nonprofit institution for strictly financial motivation, it has not
hesitated to yield to the demands of Ohio BWC.

My advice to Ohio workers: Don't Get Hurt!

Dr. Christman practices in Dayton, Ohio, and
is a member of the Board of Directors of the AAPS.